Phalanx CIWS: Difference between revisions
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In a recruitment advertisement for the [[Royal Navy]], an operator appears to use a Phalanx to destroy an incoming enemy missile. |
In a recruitment advertisement for the [[Royal Navy]], an operator appears to use a Phalanx to destroy an incoming enemy missile. |
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In the [[Neal Stephenson]] novel ''[[Snow Crash]]'', the main character, Hiro Protagonist, engages in a long-range gun battle with the Phalanx system of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']] using an experimental gatling gun called ''[[Reason (weapon system)|Reason]]''. |
In the [[Neal Stephenson]] novel ''[[Snow Crash]]'', the main character, Hiro Protagonist, engages in a long-range gun battle with the Phalanx system of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']] using an experimental gatling gun called ''[[Reason (weapon system)|Reason]]''. Reason fired depleted uranium shells much like the Phalanx used to do. |
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In the Peter Albano novel, ''The Seventh Carrier'', (first of the Carrier YONAGA series) the [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)| USS ''New Jersey'']] engages Japanese pilots of the carrier Yonaga (which was trapped for four decades behind a wall of ice in the ''[[Chukchi Peninsula]]'') with its Phalanx at [[Pearl Harbor]]. |
In the Peter Albano novel, ''The Seventh Carrier'', (first of the Carrier YONAGA series) the [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)| USS ''New Jersey'']] engages Japanese pilots of the carrier Yonaga (which was trapped for four decades behind a wall of ice in the ''[[Chukchi Peninsula]]'') with its Phalanx at [[Pearl Harbor]]. |
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Revision as of 19:35, 12 April 2006
The Phalanx CIWS (Close-in weapon system, pronounced see-whizz) is an anti-missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division. It is now manufactured by the Raytheon Company. It is used by the United States Navy on every class of surface combat ship in its fleet and is used by navies of over twenty allied nations.
Overview
It was developed as the final line of defense (terminal defense) against anti-ship missiles (AShMs), including high-G, maneuvering sea-skimmers. The first system was offered to the US Navy for evaluation on the USS Bigelow in 1977. It was accepted and production started in 1978, the first ship fully fitted out was the Coral Sea in 1980.
The basis of the system is a 20mm M61 Vulcan gatling gun linked to a radar system for acquiring and tracking targets. The gun fires at a variable 4,500 rounds per minute (hydraulic models only fired 3,000 rounds per minute): it is mounted in a self-contained turret along with an automated fire control system. The system automatically searches, detects, tracks, engages and confirms kills using its computer-controlled radar system. The entire unit weighs 5625 kg or 6120 kg.
Phalanx has been developed through a number of different configurations. The basic style is the Block 0. The Block 1 (1988) offers various improvements in radar, ammunition, rate of fire and computing. Block 1A introduced a new computer system. The Block 1B PSuM (Phalanx Surface Mode, 1999) adds a forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor to allow the weapon to be used against surface targets. This addition was developed to provide ship defense against small vessel threats and other "floaters" in littoral waters and to improve the weapon's performance against slower low-flying aircraft. The Block 1B also allows for human intervention to identify and target threats.
The US and Canada are in the process of upgrading all their Phalanx systems to the Block 1B configuration. The Block 1B is also used by other navies such as Japan, Egypt and Bahrain.
Sailors often refer to the CIWS as "R2-D2 with a hard on" due to its peculiar shape.
How the CIWS Works
The CIWS is designed to be the last line of defense against anti-ship missiles. Due to its design criteria its effective range is very short relative to the range of modern SAMs (exact range is classified). The gun mount moves at a very high speed and with great precision. The system takes minimal inputs from the ship making it capable of functioning despite potential damage to the ship. The only input that is required for operation is for it to receive 440VAC at 60Hz. For full operation including some non-essential functions, it also has inputs for True compass ships heading and 115VAC for the PASS and tape drive subsystems.
Radar Subsystems
The CIWS has two radars that work together to engage targets. The first radar is the search radar, located inside the dome on the weapon control group (top of the white painted portion). The search radar does exactly that - searches for any targets and takes note of which direction they are traveling, how fast, their exact position and other information. When the search radar identifies a potential target (see details below), the mount moves to face the target and then hands over the target to the track radar. The track radar is an "orange peel"-style radar that is more precise, but can only view a much smaller area. The track radar observes the target until it decides when the optimum opportunity to fire is, and then depending on the operator conditions, it will fire automatically or will recommend fire to the operator.
Gun and Ammunition Handling System
As stated above the Block 0 CIWS mounts (hydraulic driven) fired at a rate of 3,000 rounds per minute and they could only hold 989 rounds in the magazine drum. The Block 1 and newer (pneumatic driven) CIWS mounts fire at a rate of 4,500 rounds and the magazine drum holds approximately 1550 rounds. The velocity of the rounds once fired is approximately 3600 feet per second (1100 m/s). The rounds are armor piercing penetrator rounds with discarding sabots. Originally they were made using depleted uranium, later changed to tungsten. The ammo handling system uses 2 conveyer belt systems. One of the systems takes the rounds out of the magazine drum and takes them to the gun. The second conveyer system takes either the empty shells or non-fired round and routes them back to the drum at the opposite end they came out from.
CIWS Contact Target Identification
The CIWS does not recognize Identification friend or foe also known as IFF. The CIWS has only the data it collects in real time from the radars to decide if the target is a threat and to engage it. A contact has to meet multiple criteria for it to be considered a target; some of the criteria are listed below.
1) Is the range of the target increasing or decreasing in relation to the ship? The CIWS search radar will see contacts that are out-bound and not pay attention to them. The CIWS will only engage a target if it's approaching the ship.
2) Is the target capable of making a maneuver to hit the ship? If a target is not heading directly at the ship, the CIWS looks at its heading in relation to the ship and its velocity. It then decides if the target can perform a maneuver to still hit the ship.
3) Is the target going between the minimum and maximum speeds? The CIWS has the ability to engage targets that travel in a wide range of speeds; however it's not an infinitely wide range. The system has a target maximum velocity limit, which if a target exceeds this velocity; the CIWS will not engage it. It also has a minimum target velocity, meaning any target going below that velocity will not be engaged by the CIWS. The operator also has the option to adjust the minimum and maximum limits within the limits of the system. The actual limits are classified.
What is described above are the basics of how the CIWS works. There are many other subsystems that run in the background to ensure proper operation, such are environmental control, transmitter, mount movement control, power control and distribution and so on. It takes 6 to 8 months to train a technician to be qualified to perform maintenance, operate and repair the CIWS.
Phalanx in combat (at sea)
The Phalanx system has not been credited with shooting down any enemy missiles or aircraft.
In February 1991, during the first Gulf War, the USS Missouri and the Phalanx-equipped USS Jarrett were in the vicinity of an Iraqi Silkworm missile (often referred to as the 'Seersucker') that had been fired, either at Missouri or at the nearby HMS Gloucester. After Missouri fired a bundle of chaff, the Phalanx system on Jarrett, operating in the automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed upon Missouri's chaff and fired a burst of rounds (not destroying the incoming missile). From this burst, four rounds hit Missouri, her being two to three miles from Jarrett at the time. There were no injuries.[1] The Seersucker missile was then intercepted by a Sea Dart missile launched from the British Royal Navy warship HMS Gloucester. Incidentally, this is the first validated, successful engagement of a missile by a missile, during combat at sea. Earlier successes of the same weapons system during the Falklands War have never been officially validated.
In 1996, a Japanese Phalanx accidentally shot down a US A-6 Intruder. The US plane was towing a radar target during gunnery exercises. A Phalanx aboard the destroyer Yuugiri locked onto the Intruder instead of the target. Both pilots ejected safely. The incident was blamed on tactical error.
Land based version
The U.S. Army's version of the Navy's CIWS Phalanx anti-missile system is called the "Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System" (LPWS). It is a type of "C-RAM" (counter-rockets, artillery and mortars) defensive weapon.
Whereas naval Phalanx systems fire depleted uranium or (more recently) tungsten armor-piercing rounds, the LPWS uses the HEIT-SD (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct) ammunition originally developed for the M163 Vulcan air-defense system. These rounds explode in mid-air, raining shrapnel at the incoming rounds in order to destroy or deflect them. This difference is due to the risk that falling spent ammunition would pose to friendly forces on the ground. [2]
Phalanx in fiction
In the Stargate television series, Phalanx is mounted on Prometheus-class (X-303) starships as a point defence weapon. However these have most likely been replaced by the superior (fictional) rail gun system.
In the action film Under Siege, a Phalanx aboard the USS Missouri is used to down an F/A-18 Hornet.
In the action film The Sum of All Fears, a Phalanx aboard the USS John C. Stennis is used to destroy multiple missiles fired by Russian Tu-22M "Backfire" bombers.
In the video game Battlefield 2, you can control the Phalanx CIWS aboard the USS Essex to shoot down enemy aircraft (but not missiles).
In the video game Ace Combat 5, the OSS Kestrel is equipped with a Phalanx CIWS, which unsuccessfully tries to shoot down incoming missiles, leading to the Kestrel's demise. Also, in Mission 3, an unnamed ship tries to use its Phalanx, but in the confusion starts firing on the docks.
Tom Clancy books which have featured Phalanxes:
- Red Storm Rising: US Navy ships utilise Phalanx mounts to shoot down Soviet AS-6 Kingfisher anti-ship missiles
- Executive Orders: USS Yorktown uses her Phalanx to destroy an Iranian anti-ship missile.
In an episode of JAG, a US Navy ship uses its Phalanx to destroy a Soviet anti-ship missile.
In a recruitment advertisement for the Royal Navy, an operator appears to use a Phalanx to destroy an incoming enemy missile.
In the Neal Stephenson novel Snow Crash, the main character, Hiro Protagonist, engages in a long-range gun battle with the Phalanx system of the USS Enterprise using an experimental gatling gun called Reason. Reason fired depleted uranium shells much like the Phalanx used to do.
In the Peter Albano novel, The Seventh Carrier, (first of the Carrier YONAGA series) the USS New Jersey engages Japanese pilots of the carrier Yonaga (which was trapped for four decades behind a wall of ice in the Chukchi Peninsula) with its Phalanx at Pearl Harbor.